0 Comments
 William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the beauty, design and wonder of God’s creation. -- "What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations." Psalms 104 The Message  Ring-necked ducks visit a small pond in Walton County, Georgia. Tuesday, 3:45 PM - Two female Ring-necked ducks made a surprise appearance on the pond. They weren’t here yesterday, and were gone the following day. They kept their distance, so I had an opportunity to try out the 1.4x teleconverter with the Sigma 600mm lens. I found that autofocus was virtually unreliable with the teleconverter. I’m not sure if it was the lack of contrast from the bright sun on water, or some other issue.
Walton County, Georgia 
 William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the beauty, design and wonder of God’s creation. -- Psalm 84:3 "Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O Lord of hosts, my King, and my God."  Female Eastern Bluebird, Sialia sialis, searches birdhouse nest box, in a backyard garden arbor birdhouses. Athens, Georgia, USA. Sunday, 7:30 AM – On an early morning walk around the block, I found the Red-shouldered Hawk sitting once again on the same fence on Hummingbird Trail that I saw at this same time last weekend. It must be a habit of his to hunt from this perch. Back home enjoying a cup of coffee on the back patio, the Cowbirds again made a showing. This time a larger group of both males and females visited the backyard feeder and perched side by side on the swingset. A pair of Eastern Bluebirds are busy throughout the backyard. A bright colored male sat high in the persimmon tree, which just today began to bud. He then flew to, and entered, the small birdhouse on the post near the fire pit. Perhaps this would be their choice for this year’s nest box? Nope. For he emerged with a beak-full of nesting material. But to which box would he carry it?  Female Eastern Bluebird, Sialia sialis, searches birdhouse nest box, in a backyard garden arbor birdhouses. Athens, Georgia, USA. Later in the afternoon, the more drably colored female made several staging runs from the Persimmon to the Crepe Myrtle, not far from where I sat. When she gained the confidence, she proceeded to the triple birdhouses over the turtle pond. Which would be her choice? Door #1, door #2, or door #3? She entered the house on the right. Throughout the course of the afternoon she made runs from the backyard, to the Persimmon, to the Crepe Myrtle, to the top of the three houses. Each time cautiously peering about before entering the right hand house. It seems the right hand house is her choice. Or is it? Best-Ever Backyard Birding Tips writes, “Sometimes the birds will spend a lot of time at one box and seem like they’re going to use it, but then they move on to a different one. Even their removing old nest materials from a box doesn’t necessarily mean that’s the one they intend to use. You’ll only know a pair has chosen a box for sure when they begin carrying nest material into the box, not out of it.” So we will wait and see... Athens, Georgia  Female Eastern Bluebird, Sialia sialis, searches birdhouse nest box, in a backyard garden arbor birdhouses. Athens, Georgia, USA.  Female Eastern Bluebird, Sialia sialis, searches birdhouse nest box, in a backyard garden arbor birdhouses. Athens, Georgia, USA.  Male Eastern Bluebird, Sialia sialis, searches birdhouse nest box, in a backyard garden arbor birdhouses. Athens, Georgia, USA. I want to thank Lee's Birdwatching Adventures for guest posting this blog! Lee's website is about birding from a Christian perspective and has years of articles and content from Lee and other creationists and birders.  William Wise's Creation Speaks is a Biblical teaching ministry that uses nature writing and photography to glorify our Creator and teach the truth of creation. -- “But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this?" Job 12:7-9 Eastern Bluebird, Sialia sialis, birdhouse nest box, garden arbor birdhouses. Athens, Georgia, USA. April 2, 2017. Thank God it’s Saturday. Finally, an opportunity for some backyard birding! Lighting the propane heater, I prepared my spot on the patio for a morning of relaxation: binoculars, camera, coffee, eBird app, notebook and pen, fill the feeders. I can relax in this beautiful scene my heavenly Father has prepared for me… and also meditate upon the future home He is preparing for me! After noting the different bird species in the flurry of activity at the freshly filled feeders, my eyes were drawn to the pair of Eastern Bluebirds. The male and female repeatedly crisscrossed the yard, alighting here and there upon the nest boxes, spending a moment in thought, and then moving to the next. Although it is still only February, they are preparing for spring. Eastern Bluebird, Sialia sialis, birdhouse nest box, garden arbor birdhouses. Athens, Georgia, USA. April 2, 2017. When my family moved into our current home in Georgia, after we were comfortably settled, it was time to prepare a backyard bird sanctuary. In addition to the small pond, feeders, fruiting shrubs and honeysuckle vines, I wanted to prepare a home for the Bluebirds and built three nest boxes. To my surprise, the very first season, the bluebirds began preparing a home for their young and have had two clutches per season every year!
And since He so graciously has been preparing a home, we should be preparing our hearts! Luke 12:43-47 “Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing... And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.”
 William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the beauty, design and wonder of God’s creation. -- "What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations." Psalms 104 The Message  Marbled Salamander, Ambystoma opacum, a species of mole salamander found in the eastern United States. Athens, Georgia, USA Saturday, 3:00 PM – First day of April. It is a clear, blue, cloudless sky; occasional breeze and perfect upper-70’s temperature. It is definitely spring now. On Thursday afternoon I was startled to notice there were green leaves on trees that were bare just the day before. Earlier this week I noticed the Crepe Myrtles on the sides of my back patio had tiny buds. Today they have sprouts nearly an inch long. I was poking around my backyard, looking at what was beginning to grow, noting what needs a little clean up. When I lifted the cover of the foot deep hole that contains my septic filter, down in the cool mounds of dirt a Marbled Salamander (Ambystoma opacum) sat curled in a ball. I closed the lid and went inside for my camera.  Marbled Salamander, Ambystoma opacum, a species of mole salamander found in the eastern United States. Holding in palm of hand. Athens, Georgia, USA Going back to get him, I was surprised at how quick the little amphibian was in retreating into a small hole. I was able to pull him out and soon found my fingers covered in a thick, sticky, white secretion. Woe to the predator that tries to munch on this little guy. I’m sure the secretion would not only be foul tasting and sticky on the tongue, but actually also poisonous. I washed the dirt off the salamander and put him on a patch of moss for some macro-photography with my 40mm micro lens. Athens, Georgia  Marbled Salamander, Ambystoma opacum, a species of mole salamander found in the eastern United States. Athens, Georgia, USA  Marbled Salamander, Ambystoma opacum, a species of mole salamander found in the eastern United States. Athens, Georgia, USA  Marbled Salamander, Ambystoma opacum, a species of mole salamander found in the eastern United States. Athens, Georgia, USA  Marbled Salamander, Ambystoma opacum, a species of mole salamander found in the eastern United States. Athens, Georgia, USA  Marbled Salamander, Ambystoma opacum, a species of mole salamander found in the eastern United States. Athens, Georgia, USA  Marbled Salamander, Ambystoma opacum, a species of mole salamander found in the eastern United States. Athens, Georgia, USA  Marbled Salamander, Ambystoma opacum, a species of mole salamander found in the eastern United States. Athens, Georgia, USA Creation Speaks is a Biblical teaching ministry that uses nature writing and photography to glorify our Creator and teach the truth of creation. “But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you; or speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish in the sea inform you. Which of all these does not know that the hand of the Lord has done this?" Job 12:7-9 Why Red?My backyard bird feeder is always alive with flashes of red. The Northern Cardinals are daily visitors for free helpings of sunflower seeds. As one catches my eye, I ponder, why red?  Red male Northern Cardinal, backyard birding, Monroe, Walton County, Georgia, USA Isaiah 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. Most animals blend into their surroundings. But not the Cardinal. He flashes about in a scarlet garment heralding his presence for all to see. Why would a small bird, an easy prey, want to wear such colors? As I meditate what creation would speak, red conjures two images: the stain of sin and the source of salvation. THE STAIN OF SIN...Red catches our attention, and normally for something of which we must take heed. We use it on our warning signs and labels; red hangs at every intersection to prevent disorderly collisions. In Isaiah 1:18, red is used as a bold simile illustrating the blatant sins of the people. All that they do and say is stained with the crimson of sin. Although sin may blend in as the “norm of society”, it stands out to God’s eyes. Isaiah the preacher points out this scarlet warning sign, and begs the people to heed the warning and repent. THE SOURCE OF SALVATION...But another profound Biblical use of the color red is that of blood. From the blood of Abel, through the atoning sacrifices of the Israelites; of the thread in the window which saved Rahab and her entire family, to the saving Blood shed upon Calvary’s cross, the entire Bible is stained red with blood.
Though I may be pushing things by stretching the color of a bird into a mini-sermon, I’d rather have the red Northern Cardinal remind of the warning of sin and of the hope of salvation, than to stand for a red-robed religious official for whom it is said the Cardinal is named!
|
 All content is ©williamwisephoto.com. Please don't steal images. My images are available at dreamstime.com. Stock sales go into the shelter photography program.
|
In December 1993 I came to know the Designer and Creator of this wonderful planet and its creatures: Jesus Christ.
|
Donations help support the animal shelter adoption photography equipment and adoption website hosting and domain fees. Thanks for your support!
|